Three thousand meters underground, within a sealed vault, the Cosmic Cube stored in the containment unit was continuously releasing energy.
Until the moment the energy reached its critical point, a surging blue light burst forth, devouring the containment unit in the blink of an eye.
In an instant, the blue energy rapidly contracted, until it stabilized into a natural, steady state.
The next second, the stable energy erupted, and Loki traversed nearly half the galaxy, arriving at the long-desired Midgard!
As soon as he landed, Loki raised the Scepter, a mischievous smile curling at the corner of his lips.
He glanced around with a cunning expression, until…
Until he realized there was absolutely nothing around him!!!
He was in a sealed room littered with broken debris.
The debris was the remnants of countless observation devices and monitoring instruments destroyed by the Cosmic Cube's energy burst.
"Fuck!"
Loki cursed outright, slumping to the ground without a care for his image.
He tossed the Scepter aside and began to wail, clutching his right hand.
"Damn it, by Frigga's grace, I can barely feel my hand anymore!"
His once uninjured right hand now seemed as if a layer of illusion had been peeled away.
In an instant, the hand was covered in golden cracks.
Within those dense cracks, an immense power swirled and corroded his flesh, deepening Loki's agony.
"I'm clearly not ready to wield the Infinity Stone directly, fuck, but I'll have it eventually!
Fortunately, there's no one here, so I can rest while I'm in this state,"
He spoke, placing his right hand palm-up on the ground.
His forearm pressed against the cold floor.
He knelt on one knee, his left hand forming a peculiar yet harmonious gesture.
Simultaneously, he chanted in a low voice.
It was an ancient syllable from the Vanir language, used to wield the dark magic of the Vanir.
Unlike Thor, Loki never felt he was the favored child of his father.
Thor, the foolish brute, had been granted the title of God of Thunder and Mjolnir upon reaching adulthood.
When Loki came of age, his father hadn't even bestowed a divine title upon him; the wisdom he now possessed was shared by his mother.
In any case, Loki deeply respected his mother and everything associated with Frigga.
Thus, Loki's mastery of Vanir magic far surpassed Thor's, even exceeding Odin's in some aspects!
Loki was always proud, but he had to admit, when it came to magic, his pride was justified.
Of course, he had his flaws, like turning a professional mage into a five-star assassin…
At the moment, Loki spent over three minutes, using more than nineteen spells, to barely detach the corrosive power of the Mind Stone from his right hand.
After temporarily stabilizing his hand, Loki collapsed to the ground, his face pale.
As the Prince of Asgard, he had never felt this exhausted in his life.
The dual stimulation of the Infinity Stone and Vanir dark magic was akin to enduring both ice and fire.
Forget ruling Midgard or counterattacking Asgard—nothing compared to getting some sleep!
Thus, the first thing Loki did upon arriving on Earth…
He slept for over an hour!
…
During his slumber, Banner, Captain Rogers, and Natasha boarded the Quinjet.
They brought over twenty elite agents to the secret location where the Cosmic Cube was buried.
After contacting the local S.H.I.E.L.D. engineering team, the team, who had barely rested for two days, reassembled.
At the site, the engineering team's leader looked at Rogers and the others as if they were fools.
"You just buried that thing two days ago, and now you want us to dig it up again?!"
For a moment, the leader felt like dying inside.
You bastard leaders, do you ever consider the hardships of us low-level workers?
Do you know how full we packed those tunnels?
Do you know how tight those tunnels are now?
You know nothing, only thinking about your own agendas, never considering others' feelings!
In the end, it's us laborers who have to do the grunt work for you!!!
The work you don't want to do!!!
Unfortunately, he could only complain in his mind, while outwardly he said,
"Got it!"
Without another word, the engineering team quickly got to work. Countless machines roared to life, the loud noises and vibrations finally waking Loki from his slumber!
Asgardians' senses were far superior to humans', and as Loki rose from the ground, he muttered to himself,
"They've found me. It seems they're digging above. Looks like it's time for me to make an appearance!"
He shook his head and rubbed his eyes, trying to clear his mind.
Then he clapped his hands, instantly brushing off the dust from his body.
Next, he gripped the Cosmic Cube with his left hand and the Scepter with his right.
With a slight flick of his left hand, he vanished.
In the same instant, he appeared among the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents.
Ever vigilant, Captain America spotted Loki first. He raised his shield and charged toward Loki.
Simultaneously, he shouted,
"Everyone on alert, we have an intruder!"
At his command, the agents halted their work in unison. Even the engineers drew their pistols, scanning for the target.
Soon, everyone saw Loki in the direction Cap was heading.
Natasha immediately followed Cap's lead, charging forward. Seeing Loki holding the Cosmic Cube, they knew combat was inevitable!
Looking at the agents on high alert, then at Cap and Natasha rushing toward him…
Loki suddenly broke into a satisfied smile.
"How surprising, on my first day in Midgard, I've found two such radiant minds!"
As he spoke, the agents around him had already opened fire.
But he stood still, the bullets passing harmlessly through his body as if he were a ghost!
"Damn, the target seems immune to physical attacks! Switch to sonic rounds!"
"Throw sonic grenades!"
"Wait, that's…!"
Someone finally noticed something was off. The Loki standing there quickly faded, vanishing into thin air.
It was just an illusion!
The real Loki had already reached Cap, gripping his throat and lifting him off the ground. With his right hand, he thrust the Scepter toward Cap's chest.
"Watch out!"
Natasha shouted from a distance, firing her pistol at Loki's head.
Cap wasn't one to sit idly by. He swiftly raised his shield to block the Scepter.
Blocked?
Did he really block it?
The next second, Loki's Scepter phased through Cap's shield, aiming straight for his chest!
Natasha's eyes widened in horror!
As the Scepter was about to pierce Cap's heart, she could do nothing but keep firing, screaming in despair,
"Watch out!"
But at that moment, Natasha heard Cap shout,
"Damn it!"
Rogers was equally alarmed. He turned his head toward Natasha, yelling,
"It's you who should watch out!"
"Me?"
Natasha was stunned, then she saw the Scepter pierce Cap's chest.
But there was no blood, and Cap showed no signs of injury!
"An illusion?"
Natasha realized, but it was too late. A pair of slender yet powerful hands closed around her neck.
Simultaneously, she felt an icy touch against her chest!
In an instant, Natasha's eyes rolled back, her pupils dilating.
"Let her go!"
Cap roared in frustration, hurling his shield at Loki.
Loki glanced at him, smirking dismissively.
He released Natasha and casually caught the shield.
"Not bad, you're Midgard's warrior, your physique almost rivals Asgard's weakest Berserker. Impressive!"
Saying this, Loki's smirk deepened. He weighed the shield in his hand and tossed it back at Cap.
Cap gritted his teeth, using all his strength to catch the shield.
But the moment it touched his hands, he was sent flying backward, sliding over eight meters before coming to a stop.
Feeling the pain in his arms, Cap's helplessness deepened.
First, it was Krypton's Elder Heisenberg.
Now, this alien who called Earth Midgard and claimed to be on par with Asgard's Berserkers.
How had the world changed so much while he was just sleeping?
Wait!
Cap paused.
Midgard?
Asgard!
"You're from Asgard! What's your connection to Thor?"
Cap blurted out, causing Loki's composed expression to falter slightly.
After a silent grind of his teeth, Loki replied irritably,
"You mean my unimaginably stupid, muscle-headed brother?"
"Thor's brother?!"
Cap's eyes widened in realization.
"You're Loki!"
"Correct, I am the Prince of Asgard, the true heir, the former ruler, the future master of Midgard, your one true god… Loki!"
Loki roared arrogantly, his words casting a shadow over the agents' hearts.
Unlike the Krypton Elder in New York, who was ruthless yet calm,
this Loki had come with the intent to rule Earth!
Meanwhile, Loki raised his right hand, and Natasha stood by his side.
In front of all the agents and Cap, Loki casually ordered Natasha,
"Tell me, what's the most prosperous city on this planet? My footsteps shall grace it next!"
As his words fell, Cap was horrified to see the Black Widow, her eyes pitch black, obediently answer Loki's command.
"New York should qualify, but there's an incredibly powerful being there, a true god among men!
So, Boss, I wouldn't recommend starting your conquest in New York!"
"Hmm?"
Hearing Natasha's response, Loki froze.
"A god among men?"
He scoffed disdainfully.
"Midgard has a god too? How weak a god must he be!"